HC Deb 21 June 1976 vol 913 cc360-2W
Mr. John Evans

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make representations to the Council of Ministers to raise the threshold for pan-European advertising of public works contracts;

(2) what is the average delay on public works contracts, and also the extra cost, caused by United Kingdom authorities being forced to advertise in accordance with EEC Directive 71/305;

(3) how many European construction firms have won contracts for United Kingdom public works as advertised in accordance with EEC Regulation 71/305 since 1973; what was the value of each contract; and what was the country of origin of the construction firms;

(4) if, in the light of the considerable discrepancy in the relative numbers of public contracts advertised for letting in the Official Journal, he will raise in the Council of Ministers the observance of EEC Regulation 71/305;

(5) what has been the total cost of advertising United Kingdom public works contracts in the EEC Official Journal since 1973;

(6) if he will list in the Official Report all the United Kingdom public works contracts, in excess of £415,000, which have not been advertised in accordance with EEC Directive 71/305 and why they have been exempted from the regulations;

(7) whether all United Kingdom public works contracts in excess of £415,000 are advertised in accordance with EEC Directive 71/305.

Mr. Joel Barnett

Representations have already been made in the appropriate quarters on the level of the threshold and about the relative numbers of contracts advertised.

There is no evidence that the advertising requirement of the directive has caused delay in the placing of public contracts or that extra costs have thereby arisen. The total cost of advertising United Kingdom public contracts is not available but is likely to be small in relation to the expenses necessarily incurred in desiging projects and placing contracts for their construction. No United Kingdom public works contract is known to have been placed with an overseas firm as a result of advertising required by the directive. Certain public works contracts, for example, those placed by authorities responsible for transport services, and for the distribution and transmission of water and energy are excluded from the provisions of the directive which also allows exceptions to the advertising requirement in certain defined circumstances, e.g. urgency, additional works etc. I regret that details of the individual contracts concerned could not be ascertained without a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources. Apart from such explicit exclusions and exceptions all United Kingdom public works contracts in excess of the threshold are advertised in accordance with the provisions of the directive.

Mr. John Evans

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many United Kingdom construction firms have won contracts for European public works as advertised in accordance with EEC Regulation 71/305 since 1973 to date; what was the value of each contract; and in which countries works were carried out.

Mr. Joel Barnett

I regret that the information is not available.